Professor to give overview of Pennsylvania's geology

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Dr. Patrick Burkhart, assistant professor of geology at Slippery Rock University, will give a presentation on Pennsylvania's unique geological features Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Jennings Environmental Education Center.
The state's landscape is divided into distinct physiographic provinces. Burkhart will cover those provinces from the coastal plain, to the ridge and valley, to the central lowland, to the Allegheny plateau.
Thrust upward about 290 million years ago, southwestern Pennsylvania's Allegheny plateau was once part of a mountain range higher than the Rockies. Now, softened by eons of weather and wear, it's rolling terrain and little stream valleys help characterize the local landscape.
Burkhart's presentation will offer a glimpse into the dynamic physical history of the state and insight into the relevance of geology in our everyday lives.
For more information, call the center at (724) 794-6011. Jennings is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and on weekends as scheduled. The trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset for hiking and other environmentally related activities.
For special accommodations because of a disability, contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks: (888) 727-2757. With at least three days notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs.